Kompakt
Encyclopedia
Kompakt is a Cologne
-based electronic music
record label
and vinyl/CD distributor, owned by Wolfgang Voigt
, Michael Mayer
and Jürgen Paape. They specialize in microhouse
and minimal techno
, and are known for their Total compilation series which reached its eleventh installment in 2010.
Kompakt originated from a techno record store that was opened in Cologne in 1993 (under the name "Delirium") by Wolfgang Voigt, Reinhard Voigt, Jörg Burger
and Jürgen Paape, who were soon joined by Michael Mayer. Kompakt itself was formally founded in 1998, combining several existing labels, the record store and distributor and also event organizing activities.
According to Grooves magazine, "Kompakt’s chief aesthetic objective has always been the perfect marriage of ambient texture and linear 4x4 structure—blending deep, granular sound design with the 4-bar rhythmic intensity and patterning that makes house and techno so club-effective". Kompakt has been noted for releases enriching abstract techno tracks with pop elements such as vocals - Mayer has stated that "We grew up with pop music and really like traces of pop in techno music. This is probably Kompakt's biggest strength-- that we can detect these pop traces and give them a home".
British music critic Simon Reynolds
has characterized Kompakt as the "label that's contributed more than any other to Germany's dominance of electronic dance music this decade [the 2000s]".
Notable producers of the label include Superpitcher
, Michael Mayer, Justus Köhncke
and Jürgen Paape. In recent years, Kompakt has been better known for bringing a trance
sound into minimal techno.
Techno and electronic artists, such as The Orb
, Thomas Fehlmann
, The Field
, Jonas Bering
, Aril Brikha
and others have released material on Kompakt.
Kompakt also runs an online music store with a weekly newsletter, providing a large amount of techno and other electronic forms and through mailorder. The label used to run its own digital download store at kompakt-mp3.net, which according to Mayer was "[one of the first] techno mp3 shops online", but it was not financially successful and was shut down after three years in late 2008. The company had 16 employees in 2009.
The Kompakt offices and record store appear in Amy Grill's 2009 documentary Speaking In Code
which features interviews with founder Wolfgang Voigt and co-owner Michael Mayer.
. Profan stopped releasing any new material in 2000, but resumed in August 2008 when Wolfgang Voigt's "Freiland Klaviermusik" single was released under the Profan name.
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
-based electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
and vinyl/CD distributor, owned by Wolfgang Voigt
Wolfgang Voigt
Wolfgang Voigt is an electronic music artist from Cologne, Germany, known for his output under various aliases on a plethora of record labels, including Warp, Harvest, Raster-Noton and Force Inc...
, Michael Mayer
Michael Mayer (musician)
Michael Mayer is one of the key figures of Cologne, Germany's electronic music scene. Mayer is a remixer, DJ, and producer, and has released a small handful of his own singles on the Kompakt music label that he helps run with founder Wolfgang Voigt...
and Jürgen Paape. They specialize in microhouse
Microhouse
Microhouse, buftech or sometimes just minimal, is a subgenre of house and glitch music.-History:Microhouse has its roots in the minimal techno, glitch , and house genres of music. Its first echoes appeared in a glitch album by German experimental artist Oval, in 1993...
and minimal techno
Minimal techno
Minimal techno is a minimalist sub-genre of techno. It is characterized by a stripped-down aesthetic that exploits the use of repetition, and understated development. This style of dance music production generally adheres to the motto less is more; a principle that has been previously utilized, to...
, and are known for their Total compilation series which reached its eleventh installment in 2010.
Kompakt originated from a techno record store that was opened in Cologne in 1993 (under the name "Delirium") by Wolfgang Voigt, Reinhard Voigt, Jörg Burger
Jörg Burger
Jörg Burger is a music producer who has had several releases on Kompakt as Triola, including a full length album Triola im Fünftonraum in 2004. He is also in a duo with Wolfgang Voigt.-References:*[ J. Burger AMG Biography]*[ Triola AMG Biography]...
and Jürgen Paape, who were soon joined by Michael Mayer. Kompakt itself was formally founded in 1998, combining several existing labels, the record store and distributor and also event organizing activities.
According to Grooves magazine, "Kompakt’s chief aesthetic objective has always been the perfect marriage of ambient texture and linear 4x4 structure—blending deep, granular sound design with the 4-bar rhythmic intensity and patterning that makes house and techno so club-effective". Kompakt has been noted for releases enriching abstract techno tracks with pop elements such as vocals - Mayer has stated that "We grew up with pop music and really like traces of pop in techno music. This is probably Kompakt's biggest strength-- that we can detect these pop traces and give them a home".
British music critic Simon Reynolds
Simon Reynolds
Simon Reynolds is an English music critic who is well-known for his writings on electronic dance music and for coining the term "post-rock". Besides electronic dance music, Reynolds has written about a wide range of artists and musical genres, and has written books on post-punk and rock...
has characterized Kompakt as the "label that's contributed more than any other to Germany's dominance of electronic dance music this decade [the 2000s]".
Notable producers of the label include Superpitcher
Superpitcher
Aksel Schaufler better known by his stage name Superpitcher, is a German producer affiliated with Cologne's Kompakt music label.-Background:Superpitcher made his first appearance on Kompakt's Total 2 compilation album in 2000 with the song "Shadows"...
, Michael Mayer, Justus Köhncke
Justus Köhncke
Justus Köhncke is a german Techno producer and pop musician from Cologne.Köhncke was a member of the house trio Whirlpool Productions, along with Hans Nieswandt and Eric D. Clark. Together, they had a number one hit in Italy in 1997 with their house track From Disco To Disco. Since 1999, he has...
and Jürgen Paape. In recent years, Kompakt has been better known for bringing a trance
Trance music
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...
sound into minimal techno.
Techno and electronic artists, such as The Orb
The Orb
Throughout 1989, the Orb, along with Martin Glover, developed the musical genre of ambient house through the use of a diverse array of samples and recordings. The culmination of its musical work came toward the end of the year when the group recorded a session for John Peel on BBC Radio 1...
, Thomas Fehlmann
Thomas Fehlmann
Thomas Fehlmann , is a Swiss-born composer/producer who currently lives in Berlin, and has been active in electronic music as far back as the 1980s. He is currently active on the Kompakt record label based in Germany...
, The Field
The Field (musician)
Axel Willner, better known by the stage name The Field, is a techno artist based in Stockholm, Sweden.-Background:In 2005, Willner submitted a demo tape the German indie label Kompakt and was subsequently signed. He released his first 12", a demo mixtape of Annie's "Heartbeat" in 2005 as well as a...
, Jonas Bering
Jonas Bering
Jonas Bering is a critically acclaimed French electronic music songwriter, from Lille, France. Jonas Bering emerged from the techno scene of Cologne, Germany, through his works released on the German label Kompakt, run by Wolfgang Voigt, Michael Mayer and Juergen Paape.-Selected...
, Aril Brikha
Aril Brikha
Aril Brikha is one of the world leading Assyrian Techno musicians, he is nominated for the Best Dance album in the Swedish National radio Gold Gala award in his adopted country of Sweden.-History:...
and others have released material on Kompakt.
Kompakt also runs an online music store with a weekly newsletter, providing a large amount of techno and other electronic forms and through mailorder. The label used to run its own digital download store at kompakt-mp3.net, which according to Mayer was "[one of the first] techno mp3 shops online", but it was not financially successful and was shut down after three years in late 2008. The company had 16 employees in 2009.
The Kompakt offices and record store appear in Amy Grill's 2009 documentary Speaking In Code
Speaking in Code
Speaking in Code is a character-based documentary directed by Amy Grill about people who are lost in the electronic music lifestyle.Shot in 11 cities and 5 countries, Speaking In Code provides a glimpse into the techno world through the eyes of Modeselektor, the Wighnomy Brothers, Philip Sherburne,...
which features interviews with founder Wolfgang Voigt and co-owner Michael Mayer.
Profan
Profan was founded in 1993 by Wolfgang Voigt and was later added as a sublabel to Kompakt. The label primarily featured material by Wolfgang Voigt and his brother Reinhard Voigt. Many critics considered Profan at the cutting edge of '90s electronicaElectronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
. Profan stopped releasing any new material in 2000, but resumed in August 2008 when Wolfgang Voigt's "Freiland Klaviermusik" single was released under the Profan name.
Total Series
- Total 1Total 1Kompakt: Total 1 or Total 1 was released on July 30, 1999. The album is the first installment of the influential Cologne-based microhouse label's annual compilation of vinyl releases and exclusives from its biggest artists and most promising newcomers.-Track listing:# Jürgen Paape - "How Great Thou...
(1999) - Total 2Total 2Kompakt: Total 2 or Total 2 was released on July 25, 2000. The album is the second installment of the Cologne-based microhouse label's annual compilation of vinyl releases and exclusives from its biggest artists and most promising newcomers....
(2000) - Total 3Total 3Kompakt: Total 3 or Total 3 was released on July 31, 2001. The album is the third installment of the influential Cologne-based microhouse label's annual compilation of vinyl releases and exclusives from its biggest artists and most promising newcomers...
(2001) - Total 4Total 4Kompakt: Total 4 or Total 4 was released on July 23, 2002. The album is the fourth installment of the influential Cologne-based microhouse label's annual compilation of vinyl releases and exclusives from its biggest artists and most promising newcomers.- Track listing :# Thomas Fehlmann - "Making...
(2002) - Total 5Total 5Kompakt: Total 5 or Total 5 was released on July 22, 2003. The album is the fifth installment of the influential Cologne-based microhouse label's annual compilation of vinyl releases and exclusives from its biggest artists and most promising newcomers.- Track listing :# SCSI-9 - "All She Wants Is"...
(2003) - Total 6Total 6Kompakt: Total 6 or Total 6 was released on July 30, 2005. The album is the sixth installment of the Cologne-based microhouse label's annual compilation of vinyl releases and exclusives from its biggest artists and most promising newcomers....
(2005) - Total 7Total 7Kompakt: Total 7 or Total 7 was released on August 21, 2006. The album is the seventh installment of the Cologne-based microhouse label's annual compilation of vinyl releases and exclusives from its biggest artists and most promising newcomers....
(2006) - Total 8Total 8Kompakt: Total 8 or Total 8 was released on August 13, 2007. The album is the eighth installment of the Cologne-based microhouse label's annual compilation of vinyl releases and exclusives from its biggest artists and most promising newcomers....
(2007) - Total 9Total 9Kompakt: Total 9 or Total 9 was released on August 18, 2008. The album is the ninth installment of the Cologne-based microhouse label's annual compilation of vinyl releases and exclusives from its biggest artists and most promising newcomers....
(2008) - Total 10Total 10Kompakt: Total 10 or Total 10 was released on August 10, 2009. The album is the tenth installment of the Cologne-based microhouse label's annual compilation of vinyl releases and exclusives from its biggest artists and most promising newcomers....
(2009) - Total 11Total 11Kompakt: Total 11 or Total 11 was released on August 23, 2010. The album is the eleventh, and latest installment of the Cologne-based microhouse label's annual compilation of vinyl releases and exclusives from its biggest artists and most promising newcomers.-Disc One:# DJ Koze – "Der Wallach" #...
(2010) - Total 12 (2011)
Pop Ambient
- Pop Ambient 2001 (2001)
- Pop Ambient 2002 (2001)
- Pop Ambient 2003 (2002)
- Pop Ambient 2004 (2003)
- Pop Ambient 2005 (2004)
- Pop Ambient 2006 (2005)
- Pop Ambient 2007 (2006)
- Pop Ambient 2008 (2007)
- Pop Ambient 2009 (2009)
- Pop Ambient 2010 (2010)
- Pop Ambient 2011 (2011)
Other Releases
- Michael MayerMichael Mayer (musician)Michael Mayer is one of the key figures of Cologne, Germany's electronic music scene. Mayer is a remixer, DJ, and producer, and has released a small handful of his own singles on the Kompakt music label that he helps run with founder Wolfgang Voigt...
- ImmerImmerImmer, German for "Always", is an influential mix album made by German electronic music artist Michael Mayer. It was released in 2002 on the Cologne-based Kompakt record label.-Reception:...
(2002) - SuperpitcherSuperpitcherAksel Schaufler better known by his stage name Superpitcher, is a German producer affiliated with Cologne's Kompakt music label.-Background:Superpitcher made his first appearance on Kompakt's Total 2 compilation album in 2000 with the song "Shadows"...
- TodayToday (Superpitcher album)Today is a mix album made by German electronic music artist Superpitcher. It was released in 2005 on the Kompakt music label.-Track listing:# "Spark" – 7:24# "Let's Help Me" – 4:59...
(2005) - The OrbThe OrbThroughout 1989, the Orb, along with Martin Glover, developed the musical genre of ambient house through the use of a diverse array of samples and recordings. The culmination of its musical work came toward the end of the year when the group recorded a session for John Peel on BBC Radio 1...
- Okie Dokie It's The Orb on Kompakt (2005) - Gui BorattoGui BorattoGui Boratto is a Brazilian electronic music producer. In the 1990s he was a member of Sect.His album Chromophobia was awarded the title of Mixmag Album of the Month. Regarding why he chose the name Chromophobia, Boratto said: "The same meaning as monochromatism in architecture, which means...
- ChromophobiaChromophobia (album)Chromophobia is the debut album of Brazilian producer Gui Boratto. It was released in February 2007 on the Kompakt label. Tracks containing guitar and piano were played by Gui Boratto. All vocals are by Luciana Villanova. It was named the 43rd best album of the decade by Resident Advisor.-Track...
(2007) - The FieldThe Field (musician)Axel Willner, better known by the stage name The Field, is a techno artist based in Stockholm, Sweden.-Background:In 2005, Willner submitted a demo tape the German indie label Kompakt and was subsequently signed. He released his first 12", a demo mixtape of Annie's "Heartbeat" in 2005 as well as a...
- From Here We Go SublimeFrom Here We Go SublimeFrom Here We Go Sublime is the highly acclaimed debut album from Axel Willner under his alias as The Field. Produced by Willner, it was released on Kompakt in March 2007...
(2007) - Gui BorattoGui BorattoGui Boratto is a Brazilian electronic music producer. In the 1990s he was a member of Sect.His album Chromophobia was awarded the title of Mixmag Album of the Month. Regarding why he chose the name Chromophobia, Boratto said: "The same meaning as monochromatism in architecture, which means...
- Take My Breath AwayTake My Breath Away (album)Take My Breath Away is a 2009 release by Brazilian DJ and producer Gui Boratto on German label Kompakt Records.- Track listing :# Take My Breath Away - 06:45# Atomic Soda - 08:48# Colors - 04:00# Opus 17 - 06:59# No Turning Back - 07:45...
(2009) - The FieldThe Field (musician)Axel Willner, better known by the stage name The Field, is a techno artist based in Stockholm, Sweden.-Background:In 2005, Willner submitted a demo tape the German indie label Kompakt and was subsequently signed. He released his first 12", a demo mixtape of Annie's "Heartbeat" in 2005 as well as a...
- Yesterday and TodayYesterday and Today (The Field album)Yesterday and Today is the second album by The Field following his critically acclaimed debut From Here We Go Sublime. It was released on 26 May, 2009 in Europe and 26 May, 2009 in the USA....
(2009) - Panda Bear- Surfer's Hymn Single (2011)
- WhoMadeWhoWhoMadeWhoWhoMadeWho formed in 2003, with falsetto voiced bassist Tomas Hoffding coming from the Scandinavian rock underground, singer songwriter/guitarist Jeppe Kjellberg from the avantgarde jazz scene, and drummer Tomas Barford – who also records as Tomboy...
- Knee Deep (2011) - Gui BorattoGui BorattoGui Boratto is a Brazilian electronic music producer. In the 1990s he was a member of Sect.His album Chromophobia was awarded the title of Mixmag Album of the Month. Regarding why he chose the name Chromophobia, Boratto said: "The same meaning as monochromatism in architecture, which means...
- IIIIII (Gui Boratto album)III is a 2011 release by Brazilian DJ and producer Gui Boratto on German label Kompakt Records.- Track listing :# Galuchat - 06:52# Stems From Hell - 08:11# Striker - 06:19# The Drill - 05:08# Flying Practice - 04:44# Trap - 03:43# Soledad - 05:05...
(2011)
External links
- Official site
- Pitchfork Media review of Total 6 compilation (2005, includes a look back at the label's success in the U.S. from 2001 to 2005)
- Dummymag.com interview with Michael Mayer, February 2010